Plans set to relocate Lake George Beach Boat Launch

LAKE GEORGE -- The final plans to relocate and upgrade the Lake George Beach Boat Launch have been completed, state Department of Environmental Conservation Regional Director Robert Stegemann said today.

The boat launch at the south end of the lake is being relocated from the west to the east of Million Dollar Beach, to avoid existing conflicts in the summer with activity at the state-owned beach.

"The design and operation of the boat launch will provide additional access for boaters to Lake George while ensuring the safety and minimizing the impacts on users of Lake George Beach and nearby residents," Stegemann said.

Moving the boat launch is part of a two-year, $3 million project to improve the roads, parking lots and access to DEC's Lake George Beach -- also known as Million Dollar Beach.

A boat washing station is planned for the boat launch, as part of the state's effort to keep aquatic invasive species out of the lake.

"Million Dollar Beach has always been a primary destination of visitors to Lake George. The planned improvements will raise the attractiveness and accessibility of the beach," said Lake George Village Mayor Robert Blais.

State officials said a number of changes to the design made in response to public comments.

The launch will be re-oriented to reduce impacts on residents on the east side of the lake, DEC said, and navigation channels will be marked out. The state has also decided that the boat launch will not operate 24 hours a day during the busy summer boating season, again to reduce the impact on neighbors.

The 25-boat capacity planned for the launch will not exceed the "comfortable carrying capacity" for that portion of the lake, according to Stegemann.

The boat launch is scheduled for construction in 2015, DEC spokesman David Winchell said.